Power driven balloon



March 10, 1942. G. J. KlMBEL 2,275,771

FOWER DRIVEN BALLOON Filed Aug. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor March 10, 1942. G. .7. KIMB EL 2,275,771

POWER DRIVEN BALLOON Filed Aug. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor J26 /f/'/ne/ A iiorney March 10, 1942. G. J. KIMBEL I 2,275,771

POWER DRIVEN BALLOON Filed Aug. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6a] J54; Ai/ne/ I 9 By M A iiorne y March 10,1942. G. J. KIMBEL POWER DRIVEN BALLOON Filed Aug. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A iiorney Patented Mar. 10, 1942 POWER DRIVEN BALLOON Guy John Kimbel, Clinton, Ill.

Application August 14,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a balloon, the general object of the invention being to provide a centrally arranged cylinder formed of metal or any other suitable material and serving the double purpose of providing storage tank for the gas and also as a back bone for the balloon structure with a propeller at the rear end of the balloon with a motor for driving the propeller, said motor and the propeller being arranged on a frame which is swingable about a vertical axis so that the propeller serves the double purpose of propelling the balloon and also for guiding the same for by swinging the frame on the vertical axis air from the propeller will turn the balloon to the right or left in accordance with the direction the frame is turned on its pivot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of substantially cylindrical gas bags through the centers of which the tank or cylinder passes with means whereby the gas in the tank can be admitted to the bags and means for returning the gas from the bags to the tank or cylinder when desired so that no gas is lost, this inflation and deflation of the bag controlling the ascend and descend of the balloon.

Another object of the invention is to connect the bags together adjacent their upper ends by passages, valve controlled so that when the valves are open the gas will equalize itself in the several bags and by closing a valve one bag with the other is closed, this being advisable if a leak should occur in one bag so that this bag can be disconnected from the other bag.

Another object of th invention is to provide a reinforcing sheet for each around the lower part of the cylinder or tank and then the sheet passes upwardly in diverging relation and has its ends connected to upper portions of the bag. This sheet minimizes any danger created by expansion of the gas bags upwardly andthis sheet carries the lifting strain and imparts the lifting action of the gas bags to the cylinder or tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide the outer circumthe bags touching the frame as they expand and also to provide a fabric covering made in sections which are detachably connected together and which are also detachably connected to light frame members, said frame members and the skeleton frame being supported by the rims of wheel-like members carried by the tank or cylinder.

communication of bag which passes 1940, Serial No. 352,620

A still further object of the invention is to pro- 55 vide a vacuum cup device on the bottom of the cabin, which is suspended from the balloon, so that when the cabin is resting on a fiat surface this vacuum cup member will tend to hold the balloon in lowered position, with means for breaking the vacuum when the balloon is to ascend.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter full described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the improved balloon with parts each section is connected with other sections by slide fasteners.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the rear end of the balloon with the propeller and motor supporting frame in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the intermediate and front part of the balloon.

Figure 4 is a section on the line l l of Figure Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

cylinder or tank, hub and a rim 4 connected with the outer ends of the spokes. Cross braces together intermediate wherever necessary or 6 connect these spokes outer ends.

the ends thereof and desirable truss members together adjacent their Longitudinally extending beams or spokes 3 radiating from the 5 connect the spokes 2 strips 1 are attached to the rims and extend to the ends of the cylinder or tank to which they are suitably secured. As shown the wheel-like members adjacent the ends of the balloon are of less diameter than the intermediate wheel-like members so that the end portions of the members I curve inwardly to the ends of the balloon so as to make these ends rounded or of torpedo shape.

The gas bags are shown at B and are of substantially cylindrical shape and are located between the wheel members so that the bags are spaced apart longitudinally and each bag has a centrally arranged hole in eachend thereof with each end of each bag having an outwardly extending small cylindrical part 9 which surrounds a part of the cylinder or tank and which is held closely against the tank by the elastic straps l0, preferably provided with buckles so that the straps can be tightly drawn around the cylinder part 9 to hold the same in a gas tight manner around the cylinder or tank. Of course, the bags in the end portions of the balloon are shaped to conform to this part of the balloon as shown in Figure 3. A sheet I 1, preferably of rubberized material, is provided for each bag, the ends of the sheet being sewn to the upper portions of the bag as at l2 with the points of attachment being placed at equal distances from the top of the bag as shown in Figure 4. The sheet extends around the bottom of the tank or cylinder and then has the two parts thereof diverging upwardly. This sheet takes the lifting strain of the bag and applies it to the cylinder or tank. The side edges of the sheet are free from the ends of the bag so that free circulation of gas throughout the bag is assured and a reinforcing sheet l3 connects top portions of the bag with intermediate portions of the diverging parts of the sheet H as also shown in Figure 4. Those portions of the sheet H which pass around the cylinder are connected to the central portions of the ends of the bag by lacing l4 passing through eyes attached to the sheet H and to said end portions of the bag as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A pipe I5 containing a valve l6 connects each bag to the tank so that by opening this valve gas can pass from the tank into the bag. A pump H has its inlet connected by a pipe Hi to the top of the bag and its outlet is connected by a pipe 13 with the tank so that by operating this pump gas can be drawn from the bag back into the tank. A tubular member connects each bag to the adjacent bag so that gas can pass from one bag to the other and each member contains a valve 2| so that the tubular member can be closed to prevent this flow of gas from one bag to the other. These tubular members 20 cause the gas to equalize itself in the bags. While the drawings show but the one pump 11 it is to be understood that a pump and its connections can be used for connecting each bag to the tank.

Lacings 22 connect the bags to the skeleton framework and preferably these lacings pass through rings 23 connected to strips of suitable material connected to the outer circumferences of the bag and the lacings pass through other small rings 24 connected with the skeleton framework, this lacing arrangement holding the outer circumferences of the bags in spaced relation to the framework so that there is no danger of damaging the bags by contact with the framework.

The framework supported by the wheel-like members is preferably composed of inner and outer members connected together by the X- members 25 and the framework supports a plurality of longitudinally extending small wires 26 which support a fabric cover 21 formed of any suitable material and this cover is formed of a plurality of sections 26 with the sections connected together by the slide fasteners 21 (see Figures 1 and '7) so that these sections can be separated when damaged or whenever it is desired to so separate the sections and new sections substituted for the damaged ones. At intervals the cover 21 is connected with the wires 26 by flat spring buckles such as are used on harness. The X-members 25 are used for curving the cover at the curved ends of the balloon and the outer ends of these X-members may be grooved to receive the wires 26.

A cabin C of the streamline shape shown more particularly in Figure 1 is placed under the balloon and is suitably supported from the framework thereof and a vacuum cup member 35 is attached to the bottom of the cabin so that when this member engages a flat surface the suction in the member will tend to hold the balloon on the surface. The vacuum can be broken by opening a valve 3| in the cabin and placed in a pipe line 32 which leads from an exterior part of the cabin into the space formed by the member 30, (see Figure 3). The controls of the various valves and the pump lead into the cabin so that an operator in the cabin can manipulate the various valves and the pump.

A frame 33 is attached to the rear end of the cylinder and to the framework and a supporting member 34 for the motor M and the propeller P is attached to this frame 33 by a vertically arranged pivot 35. Oppositely extending arms 36 are attached to the sides of the supporting member 34 and a cable 31 is attached to the outer end of each arm, these cables passing through guide means at the sides of the tank or cylinder with suitable pulleys 38 and then pass to a control winch 39 in the cabin with the parts so arranged that when the wheel of the winch is turned in one direction one cable 31 will be slackened and the other cable tightened so as to swing the member 34 with the motor and propeller on the pivot 35 in one direction or the other. When so swung the propeller will produce air currents which strike against one side or the other of the rear end of the bag and thus the bag or balloon can be guided to' the right or left. As before stated, by pumping the gas from the bags B back into the tank or cylinder 1 the balloon will descend and by opening the valves l6 of the pipes l5 the gas will flow back into the bags and then the balloon will ascend.

An arcuate-shaped fuel tank T is placed in the lower part of the balloon on the inner portion of the rim of some of the wheel-like members and fuel can be delivered to the tank by means of the pipes 40 which extend to an exterior part of the balloon adjacent the front end thereof. If desired these tanks can be formed in sections and the sections suitably connected together. Of course, suitable carburetor means is connected by a pipe with the tank and with the motor.

A small propeller 4| is connected with the front end or nose of the ship and this can be used for operating an electric generator providing electricity for the ship or for operating equipment used with the ship. A ladder 42 leads from the cabin into the interior of the balloon for permitting access to the parts within the cover for inspection and repair purposes.

Zig-zag members 43 may be placed between the trusses 6 and the rims of the wheel members if desired or necessary.

The lacings 22 will prevent the bags from collapsing when deflected and such lacings also support the bags out of contact with the framework while permitting the bags to expand.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a lighter than air airship, a longitudinally extending centrally arranged cylindrical member forming a tank for gas, a gas bag of substantially cylindrical shape surrounding the tank,

invention, what is having its central part passing around the lower portion of the tank with the remaining portions extending upwardly and outwardly and having their upper edges connected with upper portions of the bag- 2. In a lighter than air ship, a hull including a centrally arranged longitudinally extending member, a gas bag surrounding a portion of said member and a reinforcing sheet in the bag having its ends connected with upper portions of the bag with the two parts of ing downwardly with the central part of the portion of the longitudinally extending member.

3. In a lighter than air ship, a hull including a centrally arranged longitudinally extending member, a gas bag surrounding a portion of said converging parts of portions of the bag.

4. In an aircraft of the class described, a hull including a longitudinally extending centrally arranged gas tank forming the back bone of the portions of the tank and controlled means for connecting each bag to the tank, pump means for connecting the bags to the tank, valve controlled conduits connecting the bags together, lacing connecting the outer walls of the bags to the adjacent parts of the hull and GUY JOHN KIMBEL. 

